The Path to Opportunities

Savi Sharma once said, “Everyone has a story and every story is worth telling.”

Each person has a story to tell and I would like to share my story and the path towards an opportunity.

My mother has always been transparent; she often reminds me that going to college will be tough due to financial instability. I am determined to finish my race to opportunity through college but a faint idea often cross my mind to help my parents, instead. Ironically, the weary and wrinkled face of my mother, the muddied and calloused hands of my father somehow ignite my aspirations to stay on track. I know that the journey will be a long bumpy ride but I am hopeful that my faith will walk me through the dark path.

“Dandani kan agkolehiyo anak ko ngem awan pay naurnong ko” (You are getting nearer to college my child but I have no savings yet), I often hear this from my mother when I was high school. I searched for almost all the opportunities that offers educational assistance.
Unfortunately, most of it is only available in developed cities or closed due to the pandemic. I applied for the governor’s educational assistance but with uncertainty and only geared for temporary aid.

While browsing the net looking for online jobs, I noticed a message from a teacher in my previous school asking, “Kayat mo ag-apply ti scholarship, Diane?” (Would you like to apply for scholarship, Diane?) Without second thoughts, I inquired on the details regarding the scholarship. With utmost hope praying for the chance, I have submitted my letter of intent to the gmail account I was provided. After a day or so, I received a message from the administrator of Florentino Pascual Ruiz Memorial Foundation Inc. asking for my story, struggles, and aspirations.

In few weeks, the foundation unfolded opportunities not just for me but also for my family. The Foundation is not just a mere foundation, it is a movement; it is a Family engaged in philanthropy and service. A torch to light the path for students that is of paramount importance to the people behind it. In fact, it does not only support the students financially but they also mentors and molds them to be responsible community leaders.

I have found another family through the foundation which I am very grateful of. I have met various people filled with humility and benevolence. It was so overwhelming that all the persons behind it regardless of who you are, without any blood relations can offer help with their utmost ability. May God continue to strengthen and prosper the foundation as it gives hope to the unfortunate ones, builds family to the outcasts, and molds students in the best version of them selves.

I am still halfway in my journey, still learning and still creating my chapters in life. But I am grateful that at the beginning chapter of it, I have already entered the room that can enhance my character better. Blessed are those people who becomes the path of the youths to success.

Blessed are those who inspire the hopeless. In this dark and chaotic world, the Foundation is going to be our guide.